PASSPORTS
Office of the Staff Judge
Advocate
Eielson AFB, Alaska
354 FW/JA
Legal Assistance & Preventive
Law
Pamphlet Series
As of 6 April 2017
WHERE CAN I APPLY FOR A PASSPORT?
You can apply for a passport in person at an
acceptance facility. The Department of State
maintains a listing of post officers, clerks of
court, public libraries, and other state, county,
and municipal government officers that are
authorized to accept passport applications. The
listing is available at
https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/DefaultForm.aspx
.
If you have urgent travel, you can apply for a
passport at a passport agency.
You ordinarily will have to make an
appointment at the post office. You must always
apply in person if:
• you are applying for your first U.S. passport;
• you are under age 16;
• your previous U.S. passport was issued
when you were under age 16;
• your previous U.S. passport was lost, stolen,
or damaged;
• your previous U.S. passport was issued more
than 15 years ago; or
• your name has changed since your U.S.
passport was issued and you are unable to
legally document your name change
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO APPLY FOR A
PASSPORT AT A COURTHOUSE OR POST
OFFICE
?
You must complete a DS-11 if you are applying
for a first-time adult passport or applying or
renewing a passport for a child under 16. You
must complete a DS-82 to renew an adult
passport. Passport forms are available from
passport agencies, many post offices, clerks of
court, county/municipal offices, and travel
agencies or by calling the National Passport
Information Center at 1-877-487-2778, or online
at
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/pass
ports/forms.html.
YOU MUST PRESENT:
1. EVIDENCE OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP
• a previous U.S. passport;
• a certified copy of your birth certificate
issued by the state, city, or county of your
birth;
• consular report of birth abroad;
• naturalization certificate; or
• certificate of citizenship
If you do not have any of the above documents,
visit http://travel.state.gov
for a list of secondary
evidence of U.S. citizenship.
2. ONE PHOTOGRAPH
Photograph must be recent (taken within the past
six months), 2 x 2 inches, in color; it must show
a front view, full face, on a plain white or off-
white background.
3. PROOF OF IDENTITY (PLUS PHOTOCOPY
OF FRONT AND BACK
)
• previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport;
• naturalization certificate;
• valid driver’s license;
• current government ID (city, state or
federal); or
• current military ID (military and
dependents)
4. FEES
$135 for a ten-year passport (age 16 and older);
$105 for a five-year passport (under 16)
These amounts include a $25 execution fee.
The passport application fee and the execution
fee are non-refundable. The fees are collected
and retained even if a passport is not issued.
5. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Although a Social Security number is not
required for issuance of a passport, Section
6039E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
requires that passport applicants provide this
information. Passport Services gives this
information to the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) routinely. Any applicant who fails to
provide the information is subject to a $500
penalty enforced by the IRS. Questions on this
matter should be referred to the nearest IRS
office.
WHEN SHOULD I APPLY FOR A PASSPORT?
Apply several months in advance of your
planned departure. If you will need visas from
foreign embassies, allow more time.
WHAT IF I NEED A PASSPORT IN A HURRY?
If you need your passport quickly, you can
expedite your application. There are a number
of ways to complete an expedited application.
First, you can make an appointment with the
regional passport agency or center by calling 1-
877-487-2778. Second, you can apply at a local
acceptance facility. Contact the facility before
arriving to determine if an appointment is
required. Third, you can apply for an expedited
renewal by mail. Additionally, you may choose
to pay for overnight delivery service for your
application (include a self-addressed, prepaid
envelop for the overnight return of the passport).
The optional service will not impact the time it
takes to process the application, only the time
that the application and passport spend in the
mail. Be sure to include dates of departure and
travel plans on your application and all fees
(including the expedite fee).
For more information, contact the National
Passport Information Center at
1-877 487-2778 to receive passport applications,
information on applying for a U.S. passport, to
check on the status of a passport application, or
to see emergency passport procedures.
This pamphlet is for basic information on
civilian passports. It is not intended to
take the place of legal advice from a
Judge Advocate. Please contact the 354th
Fighter Wing Legal Office for questions
and further information.
354 FW/JA
Tel: (907) 377-4114 / DSN 377-4114
